Requirements for the Master of Arts degree in English and American literature (without a focus in creative writing) include the completion of 32 points, 24 of which must be earned through course work taken within the English department, and the following specific requirements:

1. A mandatory 3-point seminar, Introduction to Advanced Literary Study for M.A. Students (G41.2980), to be taken in the first term of matriculation.
2. One course in English language selected from among the following: G41.1060, G41.1061, G41.2044, G41.2045, G41.2072. This requirement may be waived if the student has taken an equivalent course elsewhere.
3. One literature course focused in each of the following three historical periods: medieval and early modern; Enlightenment and romantic; post-romantic through contemporary. This distribution requirement is in addition to the English language requirement detailed above in item 2, although Introductory Old English (G41.1060) and Introductory Middle English (G41.1061) may count toward both the English language requirement and the medieval and early modern literature requirement.
4. Proficiency in a language other than English. This requirement may be satisfied either before or after matriculation at NYU by (a) achieving a grade of B or better in the fourth term of a college language course completed no more than two years prior to matriculation for the M.A. degree in English and American literature at New York University or (b) passing a language examination at a comparable level of proficiency. International students whose native language is not English should consult the director of graduate studies.
5. Submission of a special project totaling about 9,000 words (i.e., 30 to 35 pages), written under the supervision of a department faculty member within the context of a required 1-point Guided Research course, for which the student is registered in an appropriate semester during the student’s period of matriculation. The special project may be a revision of a paper written at an earlier point in the student’s M.A. career or prior to its commencement, or an entirely new undertaking, as deemed appropriate by the student’s faculty adviser and the director of graduate studies. See the department’s Instructions for the Special Project for details.
6. Completion of all requirements listed above within five years.

To qualify for the degree, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.0, must complete a minimum of 24 points with a grade of B or better, and may offer no more than 8 points with a grade of C. A student may take no more than 36 points toward the degree.

Concentration in Creative Writing

The concentration in creative writing is designed to offer students an opportunity to perfect their own writing and at the same time develop their knowledge of English and American literature. This concentration is recommended for students who may want to apply to a Ph.D. program in English literature or to teach literature as well as creative writing at the secondary-school level.

Requirements for the Master of Arts degree with a concentration in creative writing include the completion of 32 points (eight 4-point courses) and the following specific requirements:

1. Four graduate creative writing workshops taken in four separate semesters (16 points).
2. Four courses in English and American literature (16 points). One of the courses must be either The Craft of Poetry, The Craft of Fiction, or The Craft of Short Fiction, taught by a member of the CWP faculty. The remaining three must be drawn from other graduate courses offered by the English department.
3. A creative thesis in poetry or fiction, consisting of a substantial piece of writing—a novella, a collection of short stories, or a group of poems—to be submitted in the student’s final semester. The project requires the approval of the student’s faculty thesis adviser (who is also the student’s final workshop instructor) and of the director of the Creative Writing Program.
4. Proficiency in a language other than English. This requirement may be satisfied either before or after matriculation at NYU by (a) achieving a grade of B or better in the fourth term of a college language course completed no more than two years prior to matriculation for the M.A. degree in English and American literature at New York University or (b) passing a language examination at a comparable level of proficiency. International students whose native language is not English should consult the director of graduate studies.
5. Completion of all requirements within five years.

To qualify for the degree, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.0, must complete a minimum of 24 points with a grade of B or better, and may offer no more than 8 points with a grade of C (no more than 4 points with a grade of C in creative writing workshops). A student may take no more than 36 points toward the degree.

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